Lehi Hopoate has been targeted on social media after being involved in the accidental collision with Tonga teammate Eli Katoa, says the star's father and league great John Hopoate.
The Melbourne Storm backrower remains in hospital in Auckland after surgery to relieve pressure on his brain after suffering three separate head knocks before and during the match against New Zealand earlier this month.
Hopoate was involved in the clash during the warm up when both players collided contesting a bomb.
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The Manly star copped abuse and was accused of carelessness in going up for the ball at the same time as Katoa in vision of the incident, which was not available to Tongan officials in the aftermath.
"Lehi is hurting, 100 per cent he is, he's feeling for Eli," John told The Sydney Morning Herald.
"He's been copping it from people asking, 'Why did you take out your teammate?' and, 'Why were you trying to take him out with your shoulder?'
"I'm just lucky Lehi doesn't read any of that crap. I've told all my kids they need to have thick skin. That TV footage showed Lehi hitting Eli, but it never showed how both of them were going for the ball.
"Lehi was catching bombs in the warm-up, the backs were doing their own thing, the forwards were doing their own thing, but then Eli chased a bomb out of nowhere. They crashed, but it was completely accidental.
"I watched the whole thing. I thought Eli was in trouble. But he was cleared by two doctors – not one, but two doctors – and how can you [second-guess] what the doctors do?
"Had the docs seen that footage before the game, Eli wouldn't have played. Every player wants to get on the field, but what do you do when the doctors tell you that you're OK?"
The abuse directed at Hopoate has led to other players posting messages of support for the Sea Eagle.
Initially, it was thought Katoa would leave hospital this week but it has now been pushed back to next week.
It's understood recommendations regarding the NRL investigation into how the situation was handled could be announced by the end of next week.
